Electrical igniter for censer fuel blocks



Ap 3, 1929. R. A. GALLERY 1,710,615

ELECTRICAL IGNITER FOR CENSER FUEL BLOCKS Filed Jan. 17, 1928 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

RGBEE'E A. GALLERY",

ELECTRIDAL IGNITER FOR J IJEL BLOCKS.

Application filed January 1'2, 1928.

5 bonaceous fuel blocks of that kind used in censers in churchcereinonials to form a combustion bed for the burning of incense.

Blocks of this character are madeof charcoal or other carboncompositions and commonly furnished in small squares of more or lessuniform dimensions to lit within the con bustion chamber of the censer,The general practice is to ignite them by exposing them to the flame ofa candle. This is a diffi ult and tedious process, as well as anuuclcanly on e, as the block does not readily ignite, and as during theoperation candle grease and carbon particles fall upon and soil thefloor of the sacristy. For the purpose of facilitating ignition, theblocks are usually formed with beveled margins extending to thin edgesto adapt them to take fire more readily from the candle flame, but theoperation is nevertheless so tedious that the altar boy or other personconducting it commonly endeavors to shorten the process by blowing uponthe smoldering edge of the block. Flying sparks are thus produced whichare a source of lire danger.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an electrical igniteron which a carbon block ofthe character described may be laid orotherwise support-ed while one or more surfaces thereof are exposed tothe heat of a resistance coil, whereby the block may be ignited in aready, cleanly, more reliable and time and labor saving manner, andwithout fire hazard.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which may be furnished at a comparatively low cost and whichis so constructed as to ignite in comparatively smallspace of time oneor more edges of a whole block, or one or more frag ments of a dividedblock when it is not desired or considered necessary to prepare acomplete block for use.

In the accompanying drawing,

, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an igniter ot' the character describedconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sect thereof and of a carbon blocksup, or thereon for ignition.

Figure 3 is a top lan view of the igniter,

Figure is a view of a carbon block of the hind referred to, such as iscustomarily used censers.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail section through a portion of theigniter and the block 7 on an enlarged scale.

In the practical embodiment of my invention herein disclosed, I providean igniter comprising abody portion 1, a plug portion 2 and a shankportion 3 connecting said body and plug portions. The portions 1, 2 and3 are preferably of unitary construction and made of porcelain, lava orother electric insulating material. The portion 1 is of square or othersuitable rectangular form, the portion 2 of circular form and theportion 3 of frusto-conical or frustopyramidal form. A threadedconducting collar or ferrule l surrounds and is fixed to the plugportion 2 to adapt said portion to be screwed into an ordiary lightingsocket.

The body port-ion l is provided with a burner face surrounded bymarginal walls 5 as to form shallow burner chamber to re ceive the fuelblock 6. The block 6, as shown in Figures 2 and l, is in the form of asquare flat cake, having its sides provided with sloping surfaces 7 soas to produce marginal edge portions 8 to facilitate ignition of theplug. The burner chamber is of somewhat less depth than the thickness ofthe block and of slightly greater dimensions, so that when'a block 6 isplaced in position therein the marginal edge portions 8 of the blockwill be slightly spaced from the walls 5.

The burner face of the block is made up of a plurality of spacedsupporting ribs 9 arranged in parallel relation to each other and to twoof the walls 5, said ribs being spaced from each other and from saidwalls 5 by intervening grooves or recesses 10. The ribs and grooves 10are of less length than the distance bctv the other two walls 5 of theblock min ate inwardly thereof, rening grooves or recesses "ht a 1 es toand. conununithe nrst-na1ned grooves 10. A uce wire 121's secured at itsends conductors 13 and 14 to the of the series to the other end grooveof the series, and the return portions connecting the adj accnt parallelstretches of the coil are disposed alternately or in staggered relationto each other within the channels 11 and beyond the ends of the ribs 9about which they pass and in spaced relation thereto. The terminalconductor 13 of the coil is-electrically connected by a conducting strip16 to the collar or ferrule. while the other terminal conductor of thecoil is connected by a conductor strip 17 with a center contact 18,thereby forming the usual conducting connections for electricallyconnecting the device to a source of current supply when fitted in alighting socket.

The grooves 10 are substantially U-shaped in cross-section and of adepth slightly exceeding the diameter of the coil, so that the stretchesof the coil will lie in spaced relation to the side walls of the grooveand slightly below the faces of the ribs 9, so as to lie below and outof contact with the bottom face of the fuel block 6 resting on the ribs.By this arrangement the coil is protected from liability of injury bycontact with the block and an air space is provided in each channelbetween the coil stretch therein and the block to provide for thecirculation of air and to facilitate and promote combustion. Thisspacing also permits free passage of air through the grooves 10 betweenthe grooves 11, from which all the grooves 10 are supplied with air, sothat a uniform distribution of air is effected to promote and supportcombustion of the block exposed to and overlying all portions of thecoil. The shape of the grooves 10 and the spaced relationship of thecoiled portions to the side walls thereof also facilitates and renderseasier the removal, by brushing or blowing, from the grooves and coiledportions of any dust particles from the plug or ashes of combastiondropping therefrom into the grooves and upon the coil.

The block supporting Surface comprising the ribs 9 is of such relativelysmaller superficial area than the base or widest portion of the blockthat when the block is properly placed in position thereon for ignitiontwo of the thinned edges 8 of the block will overlie the end grooves 10of said series of grooves and the terminal coiled portions arrangedtherein, while the other two thinned edges 8 of the block, arranged atright angles to those first-named, will project beyond the ends of theribs 9 and overhang the channels and the return portions 15 of the coildisposed therein. lVhen so disposed the thinned edges 8 of the blockwill also lie out of contact with the walls 5, so as to not completelyclose the end grooves of the series 10 or the grooves 11 to outsideatmosphere. with the result that the thickened edge portions 8 of theblock will be subjected to the heat of the underlying coiled port-ionsunder ventilating conditions which ensures the rapid ignition of theseportions of the block.

Formed in the sides of the body 1 containing the grooves 11 are seriesof air conducting channels 19, the channels of each series being equalin number to the number of block supporting ribs 9. These channels openat their inlet ends through the base of the body 1 and sides of theshank 3 and at their delivery ends into the channels 1.1 in line withthe ends of the ribs 9. As shown, the arrangement of the delivery endsof the channels is such that every other channel in each groove 11 opensinto the space bounded by a return portion of the coil and lies betweenthe same and the adjacent end of the contiguous rib.

When the igniter is in operation with the block it is disposed inposition to be ignited, the heat of the coiled portions in the channels10 and 11 producing an induced draft causing by suction the drawing ofair through the channels 19 into the grooves 11, from which the airflows through the grooves 10 and beneath the block, so that properventilation is afforded beneath all those portions of the blocksubjected to the heating action of the coil to promote ignition andcombustion and thereby reduce to a material extent the time intervalrequired to start the ignition of the block and its combustion to anextent to place it in condition to be removed and dis osed within acenser for use as an igniter an fuel bed for the incense to be burned.

In the use of the device, it is to be understood that, with theconstruct-ion disclosed, the igniter is arranged, when connected up withan electric circuit, so that its combustion chamber and block supportingface lie in a horizontal plane, the block 6 being correspondinglydisposed and resting with its wider face upon the ribs 9 during theigniting action, and as illustrated in Figure 2. It is to be understood,however, that by the provision of suitable means to prevent the blockfrom shifting, or by slightly altering the construction of the igniterto adapt it to hold the block from shifting thereon, the igniter may bearranged for use with its combustion chamber and supporting facearranged at any desired angle between the horizontal and vertical or inupri ht or inverted position.

By means of my invention an electrical igniter is provided by means ofwhich carbonaceous fuel blocks may be ignited in a ready, quick andconvenient manner and with an avoidance of the objections incident topresent methods, as hereinbefore described. This igniter is of simpleconstruction and therefore may be furnished at a comparatively smallcost, and, as a result of the defined construction and arrangement ofthe grooves and coil, may be easily and conveniently cleaned and kept inprime working condition.

lVhile the device has been described as employed for heating full-sizedblocks it is, of course, to be understood that it may be used forheating any sized fragment of a broken block when it is not desired orrequired to ignite a full-sized block for use in the censor.

While, also, I have disclosed a certain e2;- emplification off theinvention, it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportionsand structural features may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrilicing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, 1 claim 1-- 1. An igniter forrectangular censer fuel blocks comprising a body of rectangular form andhaving a heating surface provided with flanges along its margins, aseries of ribs parallel with each other and with two of said flanges andspaced from each other and from said two flanges to provide grooves, theends of the ribs terminating inwardly of the other tWo flanges of theblock and providing transverse grooves respectively intersecting theends of the first-named grooves, a resistance coil extending sinuouslythrough the firstnamed grooves with the return portions connecting itsadjacent stretches lying in the transverse grooves, draft channelscommunicating with the transverse grooves, and means for connecting thecoil with a heating current.

A device for igniting rectangular censor fuel blocks having thinnedmarginal edges comprising a member having a grooved supporting surfacefor the block and a marginal channel surrounding said grooved surlace,over which channel the thinned edges of the block extend when the blockis supported in position, said member being provided in at least two ofthe sides of said channel with ventilation openings, and a resistancecoil extending through said channel and arranged so that portions of thecoil surround some of the ventilation openings and are arranged inalternation with the remaining ventilation openings.

In testlmony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBEPT A. GALLERY.

